Whitney Houston and Dionne Warwick showed Clive Davis’s A list party crowd how superstars make history last night. In front of a double A list crowd in the Beverly Hilton grand ballroom, the two cousins (their mothers are sisters) brought down the house with “That’s What Friends Are For” in a tribute to Warwick’s 50 years in showbiz. It was the culmination of a magic night that included performances by Jennifer Hudson–who was amazing in her own tribute to Aretha Franklin— as well as Mumford & Son, Mary J. Blige, R Kelly, Janelle Monae, Cee Lo Green, and “Glee” star Matthew Morrison.

And a stealth guest at the People magazine table: Facebook co-creator Sean Parker, who also invented Napster, the downloading service that brought down the music business. Parker confirmed for me he’s bought the big townhouse he’s been renting in Greenwich Village for a tidy sum of 20 –that’s twenty–million dollars. Welcome, neighbor!

The funniest line of the night about the music business, from Clive: “We had to do the place cards in pencil.”

And Cher, of course, at the podium, introducing one time lover Geffen, who now has a male partner: “I don’t even know what this f—– award is.”

And Clive, at the very end of the show, as Whitney and Dionne finished up, and Whitney had no stage direction: “I found you when you were 19 and I’m still your boss,” he said lovingly, and pulled her to his side.

Author

Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News. He writes for Parade magazine and has written for Details, Vogue, the New York Times, Post, and Daily News and many other publications. He is the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals.

I’m a big fan of superstar whitney eversince i came to know her through her beautiful voice.I have came to know her ups and down and havd ached when her bad situations in her life. I want her to come out on top again.she is my hero!

Whitney you are a true inspiration, your voice is like no other, When I was ten yrs.old and I heard you on the radio singing the ”Greatest Love Of All” I just knew you were a force to be recken with and at that very moment i just knew i would be a fan for life. ”MAY GOG BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY”
”A TRUE FAN 4 LIFE”

Whitney i’ve loved you since i was a little girl, and i heard u on the radio in 1986, singing the greatest love of all i was only ten yrs.old and i knew right then that u were a force to be recken with, ur voice was so powerful it did something to me and i just knew at that very moment that i would be a fan for life,Whitney you are a true inspiration and a pillard of strenght for me and every person out here in the world, ”MAY GOD BLESS YOU IN UR FAMILY”

Dear whitney, av always luvd u since i was a child.. Ur a pillar of strength and inspiration to millions out dere. I c u bein restored bigtime cuz he will b a shield for u nd a lifter of your hed. God bless u always

Whitney you inspire us all to not only be a better musician , but a better person as well. What people didnt catch was that you have that i’ve been PRACTICING and im in the studio voice :)….we already know this summer you bout to murder it again!!!!!!!!!!!!….May God continue to Bless You

As a fan for years, I wish whitney houston all the best in life. There is no one like you with that package, beauty, voice, love, care and class. i would love to be there in a room full with legends like you.
god bless you and your family